ARLC eyes $40m surplus to invest in game’s future

[BunniesMan]

Cammo, you, ED and the other cheerleaders in this thread belong to the "the ARLC is good. The ARLC is great. The ARLC know all" school of thought. I on the other hand am able to think critically and to think proactively and to imagine a better way of doing things than the status quo.

The 4 areas I outlined need funding and if they were funded from the 40 million not being spent it would have exponential long term benefits for the game. Benefits that far outweigh sitting on a surplus.

The Howard government created billions upon billions in surpluses during the most fortunate economic times in our history and instead of properly investing in infrastructure Howard, Rudd and Gillard pissed it all away by sitting on it and giving it away stupidly.

Like the federal government a decade ago, the NRL is now in its most fortunate economic circumstances in history. They can spend this money on the vital things I mentioned or they can sit on it and waste time while other sports build things for long term success.

 

[Cammo]

Cammo, you, ED and the other cheerleaders in this thread belong to the "the ARLC is good. The ARLC is great. The ARLC know all" school of thought. I on the other hand am able to thing critically and to think proactively and to imagine a better way of doing things than the status quo.

The 4 areas I outlined need funding and if they were funded from the 40 million not being spent it would have exponential long term benefits for the game. Benefits that far outweigh sitting on a surplus.

The Howard government created billions upon billions in surpluses during the most fortunate economic times in our history and instead of properly investing in infrastructure Howard, Rudd and Gillard pissed it all away by sitting on it and giving it away stupidly.

Like the federal government a decade ago, the NRL is now in its most fortunate economic circumstances in history. They can spend this money on the vital things I mentioned or they can sit on it and waste time while other sports build things for long term success.

So you want them to rush out and spend all the money now and not take time to put a good business plan in place to ensure that the right thing is done with it?

How do you know they are just sitting on it and not planning what to do with it?

 

[El Diablo]

Cammo, you, ED and the other cheerleaders in this thread belong to the "the ARLC is good. The ARLC is great. The ARLC know all" school of thought. I on the other hand am able to think critically and to think proactively and to imagine a better way of doing things than the status quo.

The 4 areas I outlined need funding and if they were funded from the 40 million not being spent it would have exponential long term benefits for the game. Benefits that far outweigh sitting on a surplus.

The Howard government created billions upon billions in surpluses during the most fortunate economic times in our history and instead of properly investing in infrastructure Howard, Rudd and Gillard pissed it all away by sitting on it and giving it away stupidly.

Like the federal government a decade ago, the NRL is now in its most fortunate economic circumstances in history. They can spend this money on the vital things I mentioned or they can sit on it and waste time while other sports build things for long term success.

 

[BunniesMan]

So you want them to rush out and spend all the money now and not take time to put a good business plan in place to ensure that the right thing is done with it?

How do you know they are just sitting on it and not planning what to do with it?

Because a surplus is unspent money by definition.

There could and should have been a national reserve grade comp by round 1 2014. There could and should have been an independent doctor at every NRL game from round 1 2014.

There could and should have been announcements made to budget for serious 8 figure investment in a team in Perth and a team in Adelaide.

There could and should have been announcements made to budget for increased spending on bush footy.

That all could have been announced by now for the short term as well as the long term.

It hasn't been. Every year they sit on the money is a year that can never be relived and is a year that other codes do more to improve themselves while the NRL stays happy with the status quo.

FFS there are still no concrete plans for expansion despite DOUBLING tv revenue. That is unforgivable.

 

[BunniesMan]

Excuse me. Licking glass is a perfectly acceptable pastime. It doesn't hurt anyone and I strongly disagree with you using it as an insult.

 

[El Diablo]

Because a surplus is unspent money by definition.

There could and should have been a national reserve grade comp by round 1 2014. There could and should have been an independent doctor at every NRL game from round 1 2014.

There could and should have been announcements made to budget for serious 8 figure investment in a team in Perth and a team in Adelaide.

There could and should have been announcements made to budget for increased spending on bush footy.

That all could have been announced by now for the short term as well as the long term.

It hasn't been. Every year they sit on the money is a year that can never be relived and is a year that other codes do more to improve themselves while the NRL stays happy with the status quo.

FFS there are still no concrete plans for expansion despite DOUBLING tv revenue. That is unforgivable.

[youtube]CSiz6kbIZkw[/youtube]

 

[Frailty]

- What would your plan for the spending the $10 million on Bush Footy actually be spent on?
- Why spend $1 million (per year) on 8 doctors salaries when there is insufficient evidence that any club has placed a player at risk? Especially given that doctor's livelihoods are on the line if they knowingly put a player in that position?
- National Reserve Grade - Give $500,000 to each club? How about the ongoing running costs of the games?
- How would you spend the $21 million on Adelaide and Perth exactly? I think Perth is in a strong position because it has developed itself. The AFL has made a massive blunder with GWS and the Gold Coast Suns by funding them.

 

[franklin2323]

Cammo, you, ED and the other cheerleaders in this thread belong to the "the ARLC is good. The ARLC is great. The ARLC know all" school of thought. I on the other hand am able to think critically and to think proactively and to imagine a better way of doing things than the status quo.

The 4 areas I outlined need funding and if they were funded from the 40 million not being spent it would have exponential long term benefits for the game. Benefits that far outweigh sitting on a surplus.

The Howard government created billions upon billions in surpluses during the most fortunate economic times in our history and instead of properly investing in infrastructure Howard, Rudd and Gillard pissed it all away by sitting on it and giving it away stupidly.

Like the federal government a decade ago, the NRL is now in its most fortunate economic circumstances in history. They can spend this money on the vital things I mentioned or they can sit on it and waste time while other sports build things for long term success.

Say like you and PR say we spend all the money straight away without improving business practices? What when it runs out?

Fact is not one single club offical has said anything against the setup (News would love to have back up). Proves to me they are on the right track. Things aren't as dire as people make out.

 

[BunniesMan]

What would your plan for the spending the $10 million on Bush Footy actually be spent on?

Junior development in general. Also specific programs for disadvantaged children in the many areas of the bush that are doing it tough, especially in the outback. No child should have to miss out on playing because of financial circumstances.

Many in the bush have to spend so much more than their city cousins just to get their child to a game. If you are poor the NRL should subsidize your fees and for the people doing it extremely tough I'd like to see the NRL pay for their boots and mouthguards. Or at least having a system to get boots and mouthguards through the NRL would help costs because the NRL could be buying it in bulk.

Also crucial areas should be identified where a team doing it tough gets funds form the NRL to get by.

Imagine how much talent we have lost because clubs have gone broke and because poor kids haven't had a real chance to give the game a go. Imagine if a potential superstar has been born in the bush in poverty.

Money should not stop any child in Australia from playing rugby league. A 40 million dollar surplus should make sure of this.

- Why spend $1 million (per year) on 8 doctors salaries when there is insufficient evidence that any club has placed a player at risk? Especially given that doctor's livelihoods are on the line if they knowingly put a player in that position?

I'm not accusing doctors of deliberately doing the wrong thing. But being employed by a club is a bad look when often the clubs short terms needs are at odds with the players long term needs. A non independent doctor could often subconsciously make the wrong judgement call because of this.

I've heard doctors say some players who were allowed to return to the field within minutes should have been not playing for 2 weeks.

If doctors were 100% independent we would know that consciously AND subconsciously the right decisions were being made.

- National Reserve Grade - Give $500,000 to each club? How about the ongoing running costs of the games?

$500,000 annually. Not a one off payment. That would cover airtravel and match payments for extra players.

- How would you spend the $21 million on Adelaide and Perth exactly? I think Perth is in a strong position because it has developed itself. The AFL has made a massive blunder with GWS and the Gold Coast Suns by funding them.

The AFL has not made a massive blunder. Short term pain is not a massive blunder.

The NRL should have the balls to get through short term pain for the long term gain.

The Suns will be contenders from 2014 and interest will pick up in them. That is what I imagine in Perth and Adelaide for NRL clubs. Even if there was any short term pain it would be worth it for the long term benefits.

I would spend the millions to get the right people in place to start building the infrastructure. Start getting out in those communities and properly engaging fans. Yes Perth has done some work but with extra money and a guaranteed start date they could do so much more.

Adelaide needs more work to get off the ground but you can't expect real interest to pick up until the NRL gives an ironclad commitment.

 

[franklin2323]

So bush footy is in tip top shape? We have a national reserve grade comp? We have doctors at games who are not employed by clubs and who never consider the teams needs when making a decision on concussions? We have a team in every major city?

People call me stupid but only the stupid would argue that we have nothing to spend money on that would help the game more than just putting money in the bank.

How's bush going fullstop? Footy aside people are moving closer to the major cities. Money wont fix that.

QRL didn't want a National reserve comp still might not. Again money wont fix it the QLD Cup standard will drop if you take the excess NRL players out.

 

[El Diablo]

Junior development in general. Also specific programs for disadvantaged children in the many areas of the bush that are doing it tough, especially in the outback. No child should have to miss out on playing because of financial circumstances.

Many in the bush have to spend so much more than their city cousins just to get their child to a game. If you are poor the NRL should subsidize your fees and for the people doing it extremely tough I'd like to see the NRL pay for their boots and mouthguards. Or at least having a system to get boots and mouthguards through the NRL would help costs because the NRL could be buying it in bulk.

Also crucial areas should be identified where a team doing it tough gets funds form the NRL to get by.

Imagine how much talent we have lost because clubs have gone broke and because poor kids haven't had a real chance to give the game a go. Imagine if a potential superstar has been born in the bush in poverty.

Money should not stop any child in Australia from playing rugby league. A 40 million dollar surplus should make sure of this.
I'm not accusing doctors of deliberately doing the wrong thing. But being employed by a club is a bad look when often the clubs short terms needs are at odds with the players long term needs. A non independent doctor could often subconsciously make the wrong judgement call because of this.

I've heard doctors say some players who were allowed to return to the field within minutes should have been not playing for 2 weeks.

If doctors were 100% independent we would know that consciously AND subconsciously the right decisions were being made.
$500,000 annually. Not a one off payment. That would cover airtravel and match payments for extra players.

The AFL has not made a massive blunder. Short term pain is not a massive blunder.

The NRL should have the balls to get through short term pain for the long term gain.

The Suns will be contenders from 2014 and interest will pick up in them. That is what I imagine in Perth and Adelaide. Even if there was any short term pain it would be worth it for the long term benefits.

I would spend the millions to get the right people in place to start building the infrastructure. Start getting out in those communities and properly engaging fans. Yes Perth has done some work but with extra money and a guaranteed start date they could so much more.

Adelaide needs more work to get off the ground but you can't expect real interest to pick up until the NRL gives an ironclad commitment.

 

[Frailty]

Junior development in general. Also specific programs for disadvantaged children in the many areas of the bush that are doing it tough, especially in the outback. No child should have to miss out on playing because of financial circumstances.

Many in the bush have to spend so much more than their city cousins just to get their child to a game. If you are poor the NRL should subsidize your fees and for the people doing it extremely tough I'd like to see the NRL pay for their boots and mouthguards. Or at least having a system to get boots and mouthguards through the NRL would help costs because the NRL could be buying it in bulk.

Also crucial areas should be identified where a team doing it tough gets funds form the NRL to get by.

Imagine how much talent we have lost because clubs have gone broke and because poor kids haven't had a real chance to give the game a go. Imagine if a potential superstar has been born in the bush in poverty.

Money should not stop any child in Australia from playing rugby league. A 40 million dollar surplus should make sure of this.

Are you sure these subsidies don't already exist? Because they mostly do.

This is a very old school approach that doesn't actually result in anymore significant benefits for bush footy than what is currently there. I'd much rather the NRL continue to their school football and touch football systems across the country (including the country areas). This is what creates new players and new money for bush footy - not merely subsidies.

I'm not accusing doctors of deliberately doing the wrong thing. But being employed by a club is a bad look when often the clubs short terms needs are at odds with the players long term needs. A non independent doctor could often subconsciously make the wrong judgement call because of this.

I've heard doctors say some players who were allowed to return to the field within minutes should have been not playing for 2 weeks.

If doctors were 100% independent we would know that consciously AND subconsciously the right decisions were being made.

Do you listen to yourself? 'Could often subconsciously'... If it were often, we'd be having massive issues - but it's not. Honestly it seems you are much more concerned about the look, rather than the facts.

$500,000 annually. Not a one off payment. That would cover airtravel and match payments for extra players.

So I'm not suggesting it is a one off payment, but you have left no money for the NRL to actually run the games, or to pay for the match officials, etc.

You also have no considered what this would do for clubs such as North Sydney and Newtown who's relevance would drop even further. You'd be punishing these clubs.

The AFL has not made a massive blunder. Short term pain is not a massive blunder.

The NRL should have the balls to get through short term pain for the long term gain.

The Suns will be contenders from 2014 and interest will pick up in them. That is what I imagine in Perth and Adelaide for NRL clubs. Even if there was any short term pain it would be worth it for the long term benefits.

I would spend the millions to get the right people in place to start building the infrastructure. Start getting out in those communities and properly engaging fans. Yes Perth has done some work but with extra money and a guaranteed start date they could do so much more.

Adelaide needs more work to get off the ground but you can't expect real interest to pick up until the NRL gives an ironclad commitment.

The AFL has failed in GWS. 2nd season in and the average attendance dropped just under 8%. They do not look like moving off the bottom of the table anytime soon, and this is with superior financial backing, and concessions to give them an advantage over other teams.
Their two victories in two years are against the Suns, and Melbourne - both cellar dwellers. They have broken records of having the most 100 point losing margins in a year, and the lowest winning percentage.

In two years, the Suns average crowd has dropped just over 11%. They have a better win record this year, but a lot of that has to do with Gary Abblett Jr. When he leaves, the wins will drop and the crowds will drop. The Suns also had the benefit of playing two years in lower level competitions.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

Junior development in general. Also specific programs for disadvantaged children in the many areas of the bush that are doing it tough, especially in the outback. No child should have to miss out on playing because of financial circumstances.

Many in the bush have to spend so much more than their city cousins just to get their child to a game. If you are poor the NRL should subsidize your fees and for the people doing it extremely tough I'd like to see the NRL pay for their boots and mouthguards. Or at least having a system to get boots and mouthguards through the NRL would help costs because the NRL could be buying it in bulk.

Also crucial areas should be identified where a team doing it tough gets funds form the NRL to get by.

Imagine how much talent we have lost because clubs have gone broke and because poor kids haven't had a real chance to give the game a go. Imagine if a potential superstar has been born in the bush in poverty.

Money should not stop any child in Australia from playing rugby league. A 40 million dollar surplus should make sure of this.
I'm not accusing doctors of deliberately doing the wrong thing. But being employed by a club is a bad look when often the clubs short terms needs are at odds with the players long term needs. A non independent doctor could often subconsciously make the wrong judgement call because of this.

I've heard doctors say some players who were allowed to return to the field within minutes should have been not playing for 2 weeks.

If doctors were 100% independent we would know that consciously AND subconsciously the right decisions were being made.
$500,000 annually. Not a one off payment. That would cover airtravel and match payments for extra players.

The AFL has not made a massive blunder. Short term pain is not a massive blunder.

The NRL should have the balls to get through short term pain for the long term gain.

The Suns will be contenders from 2014 and interest will pick up in them. That is what I imagine in Perth and Adelaide for NRL clubs. Even if there was any short term pain it would be worth it for the long term benefits.

I would spend the millions to get the right people in place to start building the infrastructure. Start getting out in those communities and properly engaging fans. Yes Perth has done some work but with extra money and a guaranteed start date they could do so much more.

Adelaide needs more work to get off the ground but you can't expect real interest to pick up until the NRL gives an ironclad commitment.

 

[Hello, I'm The Doctor]

The bottom line is rugby league is not a for profit business. Surpluses should be given to the many stakeholders within the game that need money. Not stored away doing nothing.

HOLY SHIT!!!! you are either the dumbest individual within our species or the single greatest troll in the history of the internet.

 

[Perth Red]

Say like you and PR say we spend all the money straight away without improving business practices? What when it runs out?

Fact is not one single club offical has said anything against the setup (News would love to have back up). Proves to me they are on the right track. Things aren't as dire as people make out.

Hang on i didn;t say spend it! I like the idea of investing it so that each year the NRL has a growing return that it can spend whilst maintaining an assett of $200mill after 5 years. By year 5 we would have around $20mill a year to spend on the areas Bunniesman wants it spent on now, whilst still having a major failsafe in case the next TV deal for any reason isn't as big or if the NRL wants to borrow to invest in stadiums. I would much rather the money be put in a decent investment portfolio than spent straight away.

By 2017 the investment could be returning enough to more than pay for NRL expansion teams where ever the NRL wanted them and go a long way to providing grass roots the support it desperately needs.

If I have a gripe, and I usually do!, it is that of the new found wealth in the game a huge chunk of it has been thrown at 16 NRL clubs (with little to be seen in return so far), a huge chunk has gone into salaries and positions at NRL HQ (too early to judge the outcomes of that) and very very little has been used to develop other areas of the game. Hopefully it is all in the planning.

 

[Spanner in the works]

I've got a crazy idea instead of doctors and throwing money at bush football. We invest the money directly into the NRL. We invest in areas such as stadiums, PPP's for light rail construction, ticketing modernisation, a future fund and the like. We do that so:

• NRL clubs don't have to pay for stadium rental.
• Crowds don't have to pay for transportation costs - ever.
• Light rail systems go to the door rather than 200 metres+ down the road.
• It's cheaper, safer, and more secure to buy tickets.
• Our credit rating improves because we have capital in a future fund. The NRL can get much cheaper loans from banks for major construction projects and investments.
• Since we have the capital available we can offer our own loans to clubs through the future fund. These can be much, much cheaper than what a bank can offer. These are offered on an incentive-based system a la the World Bank or the IMF i.e. we will give you this money if you satisfy certain conditions. These might include restructuring your club to become sustainable and profitable; requirements to remove a certain amount of bad debt by a certain date; investing in X to provide revenue; etc etc

We do all this (plus more) so we have profitable NRL clubs. We do this so we don't have to give them $45 million+ every year, $45 million that is effectively being used at present to fund debt, $45 million that could be spent elsewhere.

I'm f**king crazy... :crazy:

 

[magpie4ever]

I've got a crazy idea instead of doctors and throwing money at bush football. We invest the money directly into the NRL. We invest in areas such as stadiums, PPP's for light rail construction, ticketing modernisation, a future fund and the like. We do that so:

• NRL clubs don't have to pay for stadium rental.
• Crowds don't have to pay for transportation costs - ever.
• Light rail systems go to the door rather than 200 metres+ down the road.
• It's cheaper, safer, and more secure to buy tickets.
• Our credit rating improves because we have capital in a future fund. The NRL can get much cheaper loans from banks for major construction projects and investments.
• Since we have the capital available we can offer our own loans to clubs through the future fund. These can be much, much cheaper than what a bank can offer. These are offered on an incentive-based system a la the World Bank or the IMF i.e. we will give you this money if you satisfy certain conditions. These might include restructuring your club to become sustainable and profitable; requirements to remove a certain amount of bad debt by a certain date; investing in X to provide revenue; etc etc

We do all this (plus more) so we have profitable NRL clubs. We do this so we don't have to give them $45 million+ every year, $45 million that is effectively being used at present to fund debt, $45 million that could be spent elsewhere.

I'm f**king crazy... :crazy:

Never have truer words been written.

 

[Perth Red]

Currently NRL clubs are getting (upto) $112mill a year in NRL grants (+$4.2mill to Storm). On top of that they got a one off total $8million last year. This is up from $61.6mill the previous year! And still some can't make ends meet.

 

[BunniesMan]

Currently NRL clubs are getting (upto) $112mill a year in NRL grants (+$4.2mill to Storm). On top of that they got a one off total $8million last year. This is up from $61.6mill the previous year! And still some can't make ends meet.

Firstly a big chunk of that is wiped out immediatly by a salary cap approaching 7 million.

Secondly with the rest of it, the poor clubs have to spend it on resources just to keep up with the rich clubs. Do you think clubs like Wests or Manly or Cronulla or Gold Coast are in a postion to tuck away the rest of that money? No unless they want to fall further behind the richest clubs when it comes to football department spending.

 

[franklin2323]

Hang on i didn;t say spend it! I like the idea of investing it so that each year the NRL has a growing return that it can spend whilst maintaining an assett of $200mill after 5 years. By year 5 we would have around $20mill a year to spend on the areas Bunniesman wants it spent on now, whilst still having a major failsafe in case the next TV deal for any reason isn't as big or if the NRL wants to borrow to invest in stadiums. I would much rather the money be put in a decent investment portfolio than spent straight away.

By 2017 the investment could be returning enough to more than pay for NRL expansion teams where ever the NRL wanted them and go a long way to providing grass roots the support it desperately needs.

If I have a gripe, and I usually do!, it is that of the new found wealth in the game a huge chunk of it has been thrown at 16 NRL clubs (with little to be seen in return so far), a huge chunk has gone into salaries and positions at NRL HQ (too early to judge the outcomes of that) and very very little has been used to develop other areas of the game. Hopefully it is all in the planning.

Apologises then. Those positions etc should all be filled now so you would think less outlay next time around. It will be interesting to see how much of the $80m gone is one off expendure's